Child Support

Texarkana Lawyers for Child Support Issues

Texas and Arkansas laws require that parents support their children. In fact, a parent has a duty to support a minor child. When a child support order is issued during a divorce or any other family law proceeding, that order is mandatory.

At the Law Office of Hawley Holman, we assist clients in all aspects of child support: the initial calculation, modification and enforcement. Contact us to schedule a free initial consultation about your case.

Determining Child Support Obligations

The court may order either or both parents to make child support payments. Both Texas and Arkansas have guidelines and/or charts for calculating a parent's child support obligations. In both cases, the amount calculated using the formula is presumed to be fair unless one party can show convincing evidence why it is not. The guidelines or amount as designated on the chart will apply unless the parents agree on some other suitable amount. All sources of income are considered.

In both states, one main issue is proving the income of the parents. When people are self-employed, for instance, the courts may not consider their tax returns reliable and may look at other evidence. When people are self-employed, for instance, the courts may not consider their tax returns reliable and may want to look at other supporting documents.

Understanding Modification and Enforcement

After a child support decree is handed down, there is still the potential for legal action over modification and enforcement.

One thing you should understand is that any changes to your child support obligation must be approved by a court. Since child support exists to benefit the child, not the other parent, agreements between the parents are not necessarily binding on a court.

Also, just because you lost your job or changed jobs does not mean you no longer owe child support. Again, changes must be approved by the court.

Our attorneys can help you if you are having trouble paying child support and need to seek modification, or if your ex-spouse's circumstances have changed and you believe your child deserves more child support. We can also help either parent in child support enforcement disputes.

Contact Us

Contact us to get help sorting out the complicated issues involved in child support modification and enforcement.